Dozaria Colony

Taya shut the door to her clinic.  Staring at the closed sign in the window and the lettering above saying everyone was welcome, she sighed deeply.  Though it was true she never stayed in one location for very long, there was something different about this place.  Sighing again, she slung her duffel over her shoulder.

“Are you leaving us?”

Taya jumped back with a yip, startled that someone was in the street behind her.  “Truck!  I didn’t see you.”

The man standing there was large, over six feet tall and weighing over two hundred pounds.  Everyone called him Truck because he was so big.

“Where are you going?” said Truck.

Taya paused before answering.  She wouldn’t have been able to run a successful clinic without him.  Truck watched out for her and helped when he could.  Of all the people she knew on Dozaria, Truck was the one she felt most guilty about disappointing.

“I’ve been offered a medical position on a freighter.  I’m meeting the captain to discuss the details.”

“Are you going to take it?”

Taya waited a few seconds before replying.  “Probably.”

“Oh.”  Truck’s tone was flat.  “I’ll walk you to the space port.”

Taya smiled.  She was surprised he was taking it so well.  “Thank you, Truck.”  She stepped away from the clinic door and began walking beside her friend.

Transport Shuttle

Taya didn’t pay attention to how long it took to travel from Dozaria Colony to Starbase Montana; her mind was on other things.  The circumstances that brought her to the colony, the difficulty in starting the clinic, her first patient, the first baby delivered, the first patient she couldn’t save.  Was it possible she stayed so long because it was the closest she felt to being a Starfleet doctor again?

“Doc, we’re on final approach,” said the pilot.

“Mm?  Oh.  Thank you,” said Taya.  Looking out the window at the Starfleet base, her stomach began to flutter.  Though two years past her banishment from any Starfleet location, she felt like she would be violating it now.  She wondered how she would be perceived by security when she went through customs.  This wasn’t going to be pleasant.

Starbase Montana – Customs

Waiting in the long line didn’t help with the growing trepidation in Taya.  The closer she got to it being her turn, the faster her heart was beating.  She had to force herself to breathe normally.  She let a few people go ahead of her, but when one of the security officers noticed, it probably looked suspicious to him.  She had to do this, so it was time to just see what happened.

“Place your duffel on the counter.  Do you have anything to declare?”

Taya smiled weakly.  “Just some clothes and basic medical equipment.”

“Are you a doctor?” said the security officer.

“Something like that,” said Taya as she followed the instructions.

Security scanned the duffel with a tricorder.  “Place your hand on the scanner.”

This was the moment Taya feared.  Security would know exactly who she was and what happened to her.  Holding her breath, she complied.

The security officer read the file results on his screen.  His bored expression from the routine of his assignment changed to squinted eyes and a frown.  He motioned for his lieutenant to read the file, too.

Taya expected to be denied entry.

The two officers had a quick, whispered conversation.  “Welcome to Starbase Montana.”

At first, Taya was too surprised to move.  Recovering quickly, she grabbed her duffel, thanked the lieutenant, and scurried off.  Maybe things would be okay.